EMT Chapter 21: Toxicology

Which of the following is NOT commonly associated with an overdose of a cardiac medication?

Urinary incontinence

The major side effect associated with administration of activated charcoal is:

black stools

Activated charcoal may be indicated for a patient who ingested:

aspirin

Ringing of the ears is associated with an overdose of:

aspirin

Medical problems that may cause the patient to present as intoxicated include all of the following EXCEPT:

diarrhea

Localized signs and symptoms of absorbed poisoning include:

burns, irritations of the skin

Sympathomimetics are CNS stimulants that frequently cause:

tachycardia

Substance abuse is MOST accurately defined as:

knowingly misusing a substance to produce a desired effect.

Signs and symptoms of staphylococcal food poisoning include:

nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

Airborne substances should be diluted with:

oxygen

Inhalant effects range from mild drowsiness to coma, but unlike most other sedative-hypnotics these agents may often cause:

seizures

Activated charcoal is in the form of a(n)

suspension

Medical problems that may cause the patient to present as intoxicated include all of the following, EXCEPT:

syncope

Signs and symptoms of a sympathomimetic drug overdose include:

tachycardia

If the patient has a chemical agent in the eyes, you should irrigate the eyes quickly and thoroughly for at least 5 to ____ minutes for acid substances.

10

The effects of bath salts can last as long as:

48 hours

Which of the following is NOT a part of treatment for patients who have overdosed?

Administer syrup of ipecac

Anticholinergic

An agent that blocks parasympathetic nerves

cholinergic receptors

An agent that overstimulates body functions controlled by the parasympathetic nerves

Which of the following is NOT a narcotic?

Ativan

Which of the following is NOT considered a sign or symptom of alcohol withdrawal?

Chest pain

Your paramedic partner administers atropine to a 49-year-old male with bradycardia. Which of the following side effects would you expect the patient to experience?

Dry mucous membranes

You have responded to the home of a 26-year-old woman who has reportedly taken a large number of pills in an attempt to commit suicide. As you enter the living room, you see her sleeping in her chair, and several empty alcohol containers are present. She is breathing heavily. You are able to arouse her consciousness for a short period of time. Which course of action takes priority?

Have her take activated charcoal while she is conscious.

The ingestion of marijuana can lead to a cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, resulting in extreme nausea and vomiting. How are these symptoms typically relieved?

Hot Showers

Which of the following would NOT provide clues to the nature of the poison?

Open windows

_____ crack produces the most rapid means of absorption and therefore the most potent effect

Smoked

Which of the following statements regarding injected poisons is FALSE?

They are easily diluted once in the bloodstream

Your priority in caring for a patient with a surface contact poisoning is to:

avoid contaminating yourself

A 4-year-old, 15-kg male ingested an unknown quantity of acetaminophen (Tylenol). The child's mother states that she does not know when the ingestion occurred. The child is conscious and alert and in no apparent distress. The EMT should:

administer 15g of activated charcoal

Treatment for ingestion of poisonous plants includes all of the following, EXCEPT:

administering activated charcoal

Which of the following is NOT a typical ingested poison

aerosol propellants

Naloxone (Narcan) should only be used in a patient with suspected opiate or opioid overdose who has:

agonal respirations or apnea

In general, injected poisons are impossible to dilute or remove because they:

are usually absorbed quickly into the body.

You respond to a college campus for a young male who is acting strangely. After law enforcement has secured the scene, you enter the patient's dorm room and find him sitting on the edge of the bed; he appears agitated. As you approach him, you note that he has dried blood around both nostrils. He is breathing adequately, his pulse is rapid and irregular, and his blood pressure is 200/110 mm Hg. Treatment for this patient includes:

attempting to calm him and giving him oxygen if tolerated

The MOST important consideration in caring for a patient who has been exposed to an organophosphate insecticide or some other cholinergic agent is to:

avoid exposure yourself

After administering activated charcoal to a patient, it is MOST important to:

be alert for vomiting

Chlorine:

causes pulmonary edema

Inhaled poisons include

chlorine

It is important to remember that some chemicals ____ when they come in contact with water.

explode

Common names for activated charcoal include all of the following, EXCEPT:

fructose

____ is a highly toxic, colorless, and flammable gas with a distinctive rotten eggs odor

hydrogen sulfide

"Nerve gases" overstimulate normal body functions that are controlled by parasympathetic nerves, causing:

increased salivation

Which of the following is TRUE regarding injected poisons:

injected poisons cannot be diluted

A 25-year-old man overdosed on heroin and is unresponsive. His breathing is slow and shallow and he is bradycardic. He has track marks on both arms. The EMT should:

insert a nasal airway and ventilate with a BVM.

Which of the following is NOT considered a typical route of administration for naloxone

intradermal

The poison control center will be able to provide you with the most information regarding the appropriate treatment for a patient with a drug overdose if the center:

is aware of the substance that is involved

Before giving activated charcoal, you should:

obtain approval from medical control

The presence of burning or blistering of the mucous membranes suggests ingestion of

poison

Signs and symptoms of chlorine exposure include all the following EXCEPT:

rales

Treatments for inhaled poisons include:

removing the patient from the exposure

Alcohol is a powerful central nervous system depressant. It:

slows reflexes

Characteristics of carbon monoxide include all of the following EXCEPT:

smells like rotten eggs

You are dispatched to a local nursery for a 39-year-old female who is sick. When you arrive, you find the patient lying on the floor. She is semiconscious, has copious amounts of saliva coming from her mouth, and is incontinent of urine. You quickly feel her pulse and note that it is very slow. Immediate management for this patient should include:

thoroughly suctioning her oropharynx

Cocaine is called all of the following EXCEPT:

weed